It’s a Sydney Theatre Company opening night for this  show which was first performed in London at the Barbican Theatre. The audience was building up in the foyer…the usual pre show buzz.

It felt good to be here. The Roslyn Packer Theatre is a great venue, tucked away in Walsh Bay.

My friend and I take our seats which were in the front row of the theatre. Up close and personal. Where one can feel everything.

The show started a bit late. Usual for an opening night as people take their time getting to their seats.

The show starts.  Maxine Peake plays an anonymous woman in her late thirties who rekindles an early romance and sees her whole life change. Deeply in love and full of shared commitment, she and her new husband want a child together. She tries to fall pregnant but nothing happens.

We see her then  begin her courageous journey into the world of IVF, a journey full of difficult medical procedures and increasingly important personal rituals, as her emotions oscillate between hope and despair. We, the audience, feel these turbulent emotions with her and wish for a positive outcome.

Verdict. This  is a beautifully crafted, poetic piece by Julia Leigh, The playwright wanted to convey that love takes many forms and life takes many surprising paths.

The performance was well directed by Anne-Louise Sarks. Peake gives a very, touching, measured, warm and engaging performance. It is a very intense journey, so many times she feels like she is finally going to be successful and then her hopes are dashed again. To add to  the pain, she sees young children playing in her home.

The set is simple, with no distraction from the action;  white walls, two entrances either side, and a desk and chair.

Stage lighting by Lizzie Powell was subtle and effective. Stefan Gregory’s soundscape was foreboding and ominous.

Poignant and powerful, Julia Leigh’s AVALANCHE : A LOVE STORY is playing the Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay until 14th September, 2019.